Before Tuesday’s game the 39-year-old Suzuki had not performed well. His batting average stood at .220 (13 for 59) before the start of Wednesday’s game, and his on-base percentage was .266.

At times he has looked baffled at the plate. When pitchers fool Suzuki with an outside pitch, it can result in a highly awkward swing because of his unique batting style, which makes him appear to be well on his way to first base before he even begins his swing.

“He’s been doing that for years,” Girardi said. “When you’re hitting .330 and getting 200-plus hits, no one says a word about it. But when you’re not they’re going to say, ‘Well, he looks bad.’ But he’s had those swings his whole career.”

On Tuesday, Suzuki, a career .322 batter, collected a ground ball single off David Price and then lined a two-run single off the hard-throwing Fernando Rodney in the ninth inning to drive in the winning run and give him 2,619 hits in the major leagues.

“I haven’t been able to do much,” he said after the 4-3 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays. “Hopefully things like this will get me past it and make me able to get going.”

When Lou Piniella was with the Seattle Mariners, he managed Suzuki during Suzuki’s first two seasons in the majors. Piniella agreed with Girardi that because of Suzuki’s approach he had the potential to look lost when flailing at outside pitches.

But Piniella saw Tuesday as a marker for Suzuki, especially because of his at-bats against Price, good left-handed pitcher.

“He was staying in there longer,” Piniella said. “He looked better. You know, sometimes when you’re older it takes a little longer to get going. But last night he looked pretty good.”

GRANDERSON SWINGS Curtis Granderson took 15 swings Wednesday in a batting cage at the Yankees minor league complex, and he was expected to start taking batting practice outdoors soon. There is no timetable for Granderson’s return from a broken right arm, but Joe Girardi said he was ahead of Mark Teixeira, who is not expected back for another two or three weeks.

Vernon Wells, who was acquired after Granderson broke his right arm, has performed very well. He took a .296 batting average into Wednesday’s game and had five home runs, tied for second most on the team. Wells is the only right-handed hitting outfielder the Yankees use.

TAMPA BAY PENGUINS Eight penguins waddled around the Tampa Bay clubhouse before the Rays’ game against the Yankees, becoming the latest novelty act that Rays Manager Joe Maddon has employed as a combination team-building exercise and diversion for the players.

“I just want the guys to chill out,” Maddon said.

According to the handlers of the penguins, which live at the Tampa Aquarium, most species come from temperate and even warm climates. The clubhouse penguins are of a species found in South Africa and Namibia

Maddon has used a variety of tactics to both relax and motivate his players. He ramped it up this week following a 2-7 road trip.

In addition to the penguins, the Rays have been visited by a cockatoo, a magician and a disc jockey.

WAITING ON YOUKILIS Kevin Youkilis missed his fourth straight game after injuring his back Saturday in Toronto. Joe Girardi said he was hopeful that Youkilis, a corner infielder, would return for Thursday’s game against the Blue Jays at Yankee Stadium. Jayson Nix replaced Youkilis again at third base on Wednesday, and Lyle Overbay was the first baseman.